Aizawl: National Institute of Technology (NIT) Mizoram has joined forces with the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras to launch the New India Internship (Pilot) 2024 programme, which aims to utilise technology for addressing rural challenges in Mizoram.
The initiative will tackle various issues including energy, water pollution, health, agriculture, education, environmental sustainability, and digital governance. The programme's inauguration took place on Thursday at NIT Mizoram's administrative building, marking the beginning of a six-month pilot phase.
During the inaugural ceremony, NIT director Prof. S Sundar spoke to 27 interns, including 12 from IIT-Madras and 15 from NIT-Mizoram, encouraging them to study Mizoram's technological progress, lifestyle, and challenges in sectors such as renewable energy, agriculture, waste management, and sustainability.
Programme coordinators Prof. Sudarsan (IIT-Madras) and Dr. Sukanta Roy, dean (academic) at NIT-Mizoram, detailed the programme structure. The initial phase comprises a month of field research in Mizoram's cities and villages, followed by a semester-long project at their respective institutions under expert supervision.
The interns consulted with Aizawl's district administration, headed by deputy commissioner Lalhriatpuia. The discussions covered rural technology development, fintech, disaster management, digital governance, and biogas production. The DC highlighted Mizoram's organic agricultural products and suggested research on supply chain management.
The group subsequently met state governor Dr Hari Babu Kambhampati, who commended their initiative and encouraged them to utilise their expertise whilst experiencing the state's culture and hospitality.
On Dec 13, the interns conducted an outreach programme at Government Republic Higher Secondary School, organised with SCERT and Zoram Intellectual, Space, Science & Technology Association (ZISSTA). The event attracted over 200 students from classes IX to XII, alongside officials from SCERT, NIT Mizoram, and IIT Madras, focusing on educational advancement and career guidance.
The interns will spend the next month embedded in Mizoram's communities, working to address development challenges while exchanging knowledge and perspectives.